BALTIMORE, 04-29-12---Lashé Speight, a sixth grader at Cross Country Elementary/Middle School, is the grand prize winner of the thirteenth annual Preakness Portraits Youth Art Contest. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake made the announcement Sunday morning at Pimlico Race Course.

Speight is the youngest winner ever.

Students from eight Baltimore City area schools, grades K through 12, were invited to create artwork showing the significance of the Preakness to Maryland history, while capturing the spirit of Thoroughbred racing. The artwork had to include Preakness related images. The $1 million Preakness® Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, will be run at Pimlico on Saturday, May 19.

As the winner of “The Jewel”, the best artwork for grades 5 through 12, Speight receives box seating for four on Preakness Day, framed artwork autographed by the connections of this year’s Preakness winner and a $250 gift certificate.

“What you see is families coming out to celebrate the history as well as our future at the same time,” Rawlings Blake said. “You can see we have so many talented young people in the City of Baltimore. This is wonderful way for them to showcase their skills.”

“The Junior Jewel”, the best artwork for grades K through 4, went to third grader Nicholas Miller, also from Cross Country Elementary School.

The judging of 122 entries was conducted on April 20 by local artist Mark Luce, Baltimore City Mayor’s Neighborhoods liaison Betsy Gardner, retired Baltimore City art teacher Heidi Schloss and representatives from the Maryland Jockey Club.

Participating schools included:

•   Arlington Elementary/Middle
•   Cross Country Elementary/Middle
•   Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle
•   Fallstaff Elementary/Middle
•   Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle
•   Hampden Elementary/Middle
•   Mt. Washington Elementary/Middle
•   Western High

All the artwork will be displayed on first floor grandstand at  Pimlico from May 1 through Preakness Day.